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diff --git a/ext/DynaLoader/README b/ext/DynaLoader/README new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..19dd8e72f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/ext/DynaLoader/README @@ -0,0 +1,53 @@ +Perl 5 DynaLoader + +See DynaLoader.doc for detailed specification. + +This module is very similar to the other Perl 5 modules except that +Configure selects which dl_*.xs file to use. + +After Configure has been run the Makefile.SH will generate a Makefile +which will run xsubpp on a specific dl_*.xs file and write the output +to DynaLoader.c + +After that the processing is the same as any other module. + +Note that, to be effective, the DynaLoader module must be _statically_ +linked into perl! Configure should arrange this. + +This interface is based on the work and comments of (in no particular +order): Larry Wall, Robert Sanders, Dean Roehrich, Jeff Okamoto, Anno +Siegel, Thomas Neumann, Paul Marquess, Charles Bailey and others. + +The dl_*.xs files should either be named after the dynamic linking +operating system interface used if that interface is available on more +than one type of system, e.g.: + dlopen for dlopen()/dlsym() type functions (SunOS, BSD) + dld for the GNU dld library functions (linux, ?) +or else the osname, e.g., hpux, next, vms etc. + +Both are determined by Configure and so only those specific names that +Configure knows/uses will work. + +If porting the DynaLoader to a platform that has a core dynamic linking +interface similar to an existing generic type, e.g., dlopen or dld, +please try to port the corresponding dl_*.xs file (using #ifdef's if +required). + +Otherwise, or if that proves too messy, create a new dl_*.xs file named +after your osname. Configure will give preference to a dl_$osname.xs +file if one exists. + +The file dl_dlopen.xs is a reference implementation by Paul Marquess +which is a good place to start if porting from scratch. For more complex +platforms take a look at dl_dld.xs. The dlutils.c file holds some +common definitions that are #included into the dl_*.xs files. + +After the initial implementation of a new DynaLoader dl_*.xs file +you may need to edit or create ext/MODULE/MODULE.bs files to reflect +the needs of your platform and linking software. + +Refer to DynaLoader.doc, ext/utils/mkbootstrap and any existing +ext/MODULE/MODULE.bs files for more information. + +Tim Bunce. +August 1994 |